Rotary valve.



S. 0. STANFIELD.

ROTARY VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1912. 1,093,891 Patented A131221, 1914,

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ROTARY VALVE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Nonna Y UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

STEPHEN 0. STANFIELD, OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY VALVE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application filed August 29, 1912. .Serial N o. 717,722.

To all Vwhom` t may concern.'

Be it known that I, STEPHEN O. STAN- EIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Orange, in the county of Orange and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryValves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rotary valves for internal combustion engines;and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the partshereinafter fully described and claimed whereby the admission andexhaust of a plurality of power cylinders are effected and controlled bya single valve.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of an internal combustionengine constructed according to this invention, and showing portions ofits casing in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the rotary valve,showing the valve casing in section, and drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3is a cross-section through the valve and its casing, taken on the line.a1-m in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection through the valve, taken onthe line y-g/ in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through aportion of the valve, taken on the line .fd-z in Fig. 4. Fig. G is asection on line w-fw in Fig. 2.

The engine illustrated is provided with four power cylinders arrangedside by side, but more or less than four power cylinders may be used incarrying out this invention, four cylinders being a satisfactory number,and being described in order to clearly set forth the invention. Thesefour power cylinders are all similar to each other, and each cylinderhas a. piston 2, and a connectingrod 3. All the connecting-rods engagewith the cranks of a crankshaft 4, and the cranks are set at any desiredangles to each other. In the engine shown the two outer cranks arearranged at one side of the crankshaft and the two inner cranks at itsopposite side, this being a good arrangement for distributing thestrains on the crankshaft. The cranks may however be arranged at equalor unequal distances around the crankshaft in spiral order.

The admission and exhaust of all four cylinders are effected by a singlerotary valve 5 working in a valve casing 6 arranged at the other endso-f the cylinders from the crankshaft. This rotary valve is providedwith a valve spindle 7, and is driven from the crankshaft by anysuitable driving mechanism, such as a drive chain 8 and sprocket wheels9. The engine is of the four cycle type, and the valve is revolved onceto each two revolutions of the crankshaft. The crankshaft is mounted insuitable bearings, and it and the driving mechanism are inclosed in anysuitable casing or casings. The valve spindle 7 is shown as being formedintegral with the valve, and it extends longitudinally through it andforms a central hub. Ball bearings 10, or other anti-friction bearings,are preferably provided at the end portions of the valve, between it andits casing; and the valve is provided with rings and strips, or otherapproved packing devices, at various points. These packing devices areomitted in the drawings, for the sake of clearness, as they do notdiffer from those commonly used on rotary valves. The valve has acircumferential exhaust groove 14 at each end portion adjacent to itsball bearings, and it also has a circumferential exhaust groove 15 atits middle part. The exhaust groove 15 preferably has bridge-pieces 1Gextending across it at the periphery of the valve, to strengthen thevalve at this point, and the exhaust grooves 14 may also be providedwith bridge-pieces if desired.

A single exhaust pipe 17 is provided and is connected to the exhaustgrooves by means of a suitable port or ports 18 in the valve casing.When the exhaust pipe 17 is connected to the exhaust grooves by aplurality of ports, each exhaust groove has a similar exhaust portarranged opposite to it, and the exhaust ports are connected to theexhaust pipe 17 by a manifold 19.

A single admission pipe 20 for the inflammable charge is provided, andhas a forked end portion 21 which communicates with two similar inletports 22. These inlet ports are arranged in the side of the valve casingopposite two inlet notches or grooves 24 and 25 formed in the valve. Theinlet notches or grooves are arranged in the valve midway between themiddle exhaust groove 15 and the two end exhaust grooves, and each inletnotch or groove extends partway around the periphery of the valve.

The two inner power cylinders are designated by the numerals 30 and 40,and the two outer cylinders by the numerals 50 and 60. These cylindershave ports 31, 41, 51, and 61, respectively, at their ends, which portscommunicate with the valve casing. These ports are arranged in line witheach other and each port is of about the same length as the diameter ofthe cylinder to which it ertains, and is comparatively narrow. T e twoinner cylinders 30 and 40 are supplied with their combustible charges bymeans of cavities 32 and 42 respectively, in the valve. These inletcavities 32 and 42 are arranged at different points of the periphery ofthe valve, and they have no direct communication with each other. Thecavity 32 communicates with the inlet notch or groove 24 in the valve bymeans of a port 33; and the cavity 42 communicates with the inlet notchor groove 25 by means of a port 43, which is reversely similar to theport 33. The cavities 32 and 42 are arranged in the valve so that theywork opposite the ports 31 and 41 respectively. The valve has also fourexhaust cavities 34, 44, 54, and 64, arranged at different points of itsperiphery and so that they work opposite the ports 31, 41, 51, and 61,respectively. These exhaust cavities are all connected together. Theadjacent ends of the exhaust cavities 34 and 44, at the middle part ofthe valve, are connected to the circumferential exhaust groove 15 byports 35 and 45 respectively, and are thereby also placed incommunication with each other. The adjacent ends of the exhaust cavities34 and 54 are connected together by a port 55 formed spirally in thesolid side portion of the valve opposite the inlet notch or groove 24.The other end of the exhaust cavity 54 is open to the exhaust groove 14at one end portion of the valve. The adjacent ends of the exhaustcavities 44 and 64 are connected together by a port 65 formed spirallyin the solid side portion of the valve opposite the inlet notch orgroove 25. The other end of the exhaust cavity 64 is open to the exhaustgroove 14 at the corresponding end portion of the valve. The valve hasalso two inlet cavities 52 and 62 arranged at different points of itsperiph ery and so that they work opposite the cylinder ports 51 and 61respectively. The inlet cavity 52 communicates with the inlet notch orgroove 24 by means of a port 53, and is therefore able to receive itscharge through it from the inlet pipe. The inlet cavity 62 communicateswith the inlet notch or groove 25 by means of a port 63, and is alsosupplied with combustible gas from the inlet pipe 20.

The inlet notches or grooves 24 and 25 each extend around the peripheryof the valve for more than the peripheral extension of the two inletcavities pertaining to them, so that a free supply of inflammable fluidis provided for each cylinder.

The valve is revolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, and eachcylinder is con-v trolled by its own portion of the valve. The valve isshown in Fig. 3 with its exhaust cavity opened to the cylinder port. Theperiods of exhaust, suction, compression, and power, are indicated onthis Fig. 3 by means of dotted curved lines having arrow heads at theirends and marked E, S, C, and l?, respectively'. These periods may berelatively varied in extent in carrying out this invention, and areadjusted to give the best working results.

The inflammable charge is distributed to the cylinders one after anotherby the valve, and when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2, thecylinders 60, 40, 30, and 50, are respectively engaged in suction,compression, exhaust, and power. When the valve is revolved so that theexhaust of cylinder 30 is complete and its suction has commenced, thecylinders 60, 50, and 40 are respectively engaged in compression,exhaust, and power. All the cylinders are arranged to work in successionin this manner.

The cylinders and the valve have any suitable water-jackets or othermeans for cooling them.

This construction of valve besides being very simple, permits of verylong periods of full port opening during inlet. and exhaust periods; thedistribution of the combustible charge is positive at all motor speeds;an ample exhaust is provided; the temperature is substantially the sameat different points of the length of the valve; all parts are easy ofaccess; and the valve is driven and operated without noise or vibration.

What I claim is:

1. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged to worksuccessively and provided with an exhaust pipe, of a single rotary valveprovided with a central hub and having a circumferential exhaust groovewhich cncircles the said hub and communicates constantly with the saidexhaust pipe, said valve having also a separate exhaust cavity for eachcylinder and having lateral ports, in the end walls of the exhaustcavities around the said hub, which place the exhaust cavities inconstant communication with each other and with the said circumferentialexhaust groove.

2. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged to worksuccessively and provided with an exhaust manifold pipe, of a singlerotary valve provided with a central hub and having a series ofcircumferential exhaust grooves which encircle the said hub andcommunicate constantly with the said manifold pipe, said valve havingalso a separate exhaust cavity for each cylinder and having lateralports, in the end walls of the exhaust cavities around the said hub,which place the exhaust cavities in constant communication with eachother and with the series of circumferential exhaust grooves.

3. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged to worksuccessively, of a single rotary valve provided with a central hub andhaving a separate pair of inlet and exhaust cavities for each cylinder,said valve having also a peripheral inlet notch or groove arrangedaround the said hub between two of the pairs of cavities, and havingalso lateral ports, in the end walls of the inlet cavities around thesaid hub, which constantly connect the peripheral inlet notch or groovewith the inlet cavities on each side of it.

4C. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged towork successively, of a single rotary valve provided with a central huband having a separate pair of inlet and exhaust cavities for eachcylinder, said valvehaving also a peripheral inlet notch or groovepartially encircling the said hub and an exhaust port formed in thepartition wall of the exhaust cavities around the said hub, said notchand port being arranged between two of the pairs of cavities andconnecting the similar cavities together.

5. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged to worksuccessively, of a single rotary valve provided with a central hub andhaving a separate pair of inlet and exhaust cavities for each cylinder,said valve having also a peripheral inlet notch or groove in it arrangedaround the said hub lbetween two of the pairs of cavities and constantlycommunicating with the inlet cavity of each pair, said valve having alsoa port formed in its solid portion around the said hub and opposite thesaid inlet notch or groove and constantly connecting the exhaustcavities of each pair.

6. The combination, with a plurality of power cylinders arranged to worksuccessively, of a single rotary valve provided with a central huh andhaving a separate pair of inlet and exhaust cavities `for each cylinder,said valve having circumferential exhaust grooves at its middle and endportions and longitudinal exhaust ports, in the end walls of its exhaustcavities around the said hub, which connect the exhaust cavities of eachpair together and with the said exhaust grooves, said valve having alsoa peripheral inlet notch or groove in it arranged around the said hubintermediate of each end exhaust groove and the middle exhaust grooveand connecting together the inlet cavities of two adjacent pairs ofcavities.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

STEPHEN O. STANFIELD.

Witnesses:

N. T. EDWARDS, C. E. LUSH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

